Royal Mail is giving its famous red postboxes their biggest redesign in 175 years, rolling out 3,500 solar-powered versions across the UK.
The new design swaps the classic slot for a high-tech drawer, powered by solar panels mounted on top. Customers will be able to drop off small parcels up to the size of a shoebox by scanning a barcode with the Royal Mail app, which then opens the drawer. Users can also request proof of posting and parcel tracking through the app.
Royal Mail hopes the update will help it compete in a crowded delivery market. Online shopping has fueled a surge in parcel deliveries, and rivals like Evri and Yodel often undercut Royal Mail on price. The company has already faced fines for failing to meet letter delivery targets, and it was bought by a Czech billionaire last December.
The redesign follows a trial run in Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire, with the rollout now expanding to cities including Edinburgh, Nottingham, Sheffield and Manchester. Two versions were tested, one featuring a black lid, but Royal Mail decided to keep the tops red for brand recognition. The final design includes a white rectangle fitted with dark solar panels, angled south to maximize sunlight.
Jack Clarkson, a Royal Mail managing director, said the change reflects shifting habits: “We are all sending and returning more parcels than ever before. This trend will only continue as online shopping shows no signs of slowing, particularly with the boom of second-hand marketplaces.”
The company is betting on convenience to win back customers. “Our message is clear,” Clarkson said. “If you have a Royal Mail label on your parcel, and it fits, put it in a postbox and we’ll do the rest.”
But challenges remain. Denmark’s postal service recently scrapped letter deliveries altogether, and Royal Mail itself is cutting back by delivering second-class letters only on alternate weekdays and skipping Saturdays. Whether solar-powered postboxes will be enough to keep Royal Mail competitive is still an open question.
