A startup called Red Metals is trying to make better use of the copper discarded in old products.
The world faces a looming copper shortage: By 2040, demand could grow by 50%, driven by everything from electric cars to the surge in data centers. At the same time, supply is expected to drop, leaving a shortfall of 10 million metric tons, according to an S&P analysis. Already, supply shortages have pushed copper prices to record highs this year.
