Pimberly Partners with the University of Essex to Pioneer Digital Product Passport Compliance within its PIM/DAM Platform

NEW YORK – April 24, 2025 —

Pimberly, a leading provider of cloud-based Product Information Management (PIM) solutions, is excited to announce its collaboration with the esteemed University of Essex to develop end-to-end functionality that ensures compliance with the European Union’s digital product passport (DPP) requirements due to come into force from 2026. Pimberly is building out functionality within the PIM/DAM platform to seamlessly populate these ‘passports’ with accurate and up-to-date product data. This initiative positions Pimberly as a front-runner when it comes to enabling businesses to meet emerging sustainability and traceability standards as they become increasingly important for both B2C and B2B consumers.

With the European Union’s digital product passport regulations set to revolutionize how product information is stored, shared, and verified, businesses across sectors are facing increasing pressure to ensure compliance. By embedding DPP capabilities directly into its PIM and DAM platform, Pimberly aims to streamline this process for companies, offering a seamless solution to manage complex data requirements while ensuring regulatory adherence. Brands leveraging the Pimberly platform can expect to reduce the time spent generating these Passports by up to 90% due to the nearly instantaneous population of fields with accurate, real-time product data.

Driving Innovation with Academia

The University of Essex, a leader in research and innovation, brings invaluable expertise to this collaboration. The partnership, initially part-funded by an Innovate UK Accelerated Knowledge Transfer grant, leverages Essex’s academic research on digital data management and sustainability frameworks to create robust tools that align with the digital product passport initiative. They will be specifically focusing on the requirements for ensuring compliance with legislation, practical methodologies for collecting data from supply chains, research on existing brands/retailers’ readiness for the 2026 deadlines, as well as the channels for advertising and branding the new DPP service.

Key Objectives of the Partnership Include:

• Streamlined Compliance: Enabling businesses to efficiently capture, store, and share product lifecycle data in line with DPP regulations.
• Enhanced Transparency: Providing a central platform for verifying key product information, including origin, composition, and environmental impact.
• Sustainability Focus: Supporting companies in achieving their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals through traceable and verifiable product data.

“At Pimberly, we are 100% committed to driving innovation that meets the evolving needs of our customers – whether they’re a retailer, a distributor, or a manufacturer. Our close partnership with the University of Essex is a testament in and of itself to our dedication to providing solutions that not only address compliance but also promote brands having an increased focus on sustainability and transparency. Our collaboration with academia will be a pivotal moment in the way eCommerce is conducted and fills us with confidence and pride in our efforts towards a ‘greener’ eCommerce landscape,” said Martin Balaam, CEO of Pimberly.

Dr Wenjuan Zeng from the University’s Essex Business School comments: “At the University of Essex, we are dedicated to advancing research that addresses real-world business challenges. This collaboration with Pimberly on digital product passport (DPP) compliance represents an important step in understanding how sustainability policies influence business operations and product innovation. Beyond ensuring regulatory compliance, the project highlights the potential for businesses to leverage digital information management for greater transparency and new market opportunities. By combining academic insights with industry expertise, we are able to develop practical solutions that support a more sustainable and data-driven future.”

The Future of Product Information Management

As industries increasingly adopt DPPs to ensure sustainability and accountability, this collaboration marks a pivotal step toward shaping the future of product information management. Pimberly’s enhanced PIM platform will empower businesses to stay ahead of regulatory changes while building consumer trust through verified product data.

About Pimberly

Pimberly is a cloud-native hybrid Product Information Management (PIM) and Digital Asset Management (DAM) platform based out of New York, NY, with offices also in Manchester, UK. Trusted by global brands, Pimberly helps businesses centralize and enrich product data, streamline workflows, and deliver exceptional omnichannel experiences. For more information, visit www.pimberly.com.

About the University of Essex

The University of Essex is renowned for its cutting-edge research and commitment to driving innovation. With a focus on practical solutions for global challenges, Essex collaborates with industry leaders to deliver impactful projects in technology, sustainability, and beyond. Learn more at www.essex.ac.uk/business.