Royal Mail upgrades postboxes with solar panels

• The UK’s iconic red postboxes were introduced in 1874
• Five trial postboxes have been fitted with solar panels in Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire
• The additional chute has been built to accommodate large parcels

Royal Mail has fitted several postboxes with solar panels across Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire to meet an increased demand for parcel services. 

The redesign marks Royal Mail postboxes first design change in 175 years, and an additional chute has also been retrofitted to the top of five postboxes, bringing them into the 21st century. 

One is based in Fowlmere in Cambridgeshire, and the other four are in Hertfordshire. This includes one in Letchworth, one in Hertford, and two in Ware. 

The chute, built for parcels, is Royal Mail’s answer to a decrease in the volume of letters being posted, while making posting parcels more convenient to their customers. 

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The decision to trial solar panelled post boxes is based on the rising popularity of online shopping and the volume of items delivered from online shops rather than bought in store.

Royal Mail’s chief executive, Emma Gilthorpe, called the upgrade a “historic change to our postboxes”.

“In an era where letter volumes continue to decline and parcels are booming, we are giving our iconic postboxes a new lease of life on street corners across the nation,” she said.

The solar panels on the pilot postboxes power a camera that can be used to scan the barcode on a large parcel. It then opens the chute for the package to be dropped in. However, letters can still be posted in the usual way. 

There are 115,000 postboxes in the UK but they’re only able to accept smaller parcels. In a statement, Royal mail said: “thousands could be adapted to the new design to accept larger parcels”.

According to Royal Mail, it’s the biggest change in design red postboxes have seen since their introduction in 1874.

Before 1874, the iconic red post boxes were painted green. However, complaints were made that the green boxes were difficult to find and so they were painted red for clearer visibility.

The Royal Mail app has updated alongside its physical counterpart, with users able to request proof of posting.

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Louise Frohlich Editorial Assistant

Joining Expert Reviews in 2023 as product assistant, Louise doubles as a freelance artist and has countless hours of experience specialising in pencil-based portraiture. As such, she now writes for our art pages and is always trying out the latest creative mediums. Louise also manages the circulation of products amongst the team, ensuring a smooth daily running of the office.

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Tamara Birch Senior writer

Tamara is a London-based journalist and has written about environmental topics for more than four years. This includes advising small business owners on cost-effective ways, like solar panels and energy-efficient products, to help them become more sustainable.

She has used her journalist and research skills to become highly knowledgeable on sustainable initiatives, issues, and solutions to help consumers do their bit for the environment – all while reducing monthly costs.

In addition to adopting sustainable practices in her personal life, Tamara has worked in the retail B2B space to help independent retailers think about their environmental choices and how they can help improve their business. She now uses this knowledge to help consumers do the same.

Her passion for sustainability and eco-friendly solutions stems from a long obsession with nature and animals and ensuring they feel looked after. In her free time, Tamara enjoys reading fantasy novels, visiting the gym, and going on long walks in new areas.

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