For many sports fans, Michael Jordan is considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time, and his Air Jordan sneakers may be some of the most popular shoes ever made. Of course everyone knows that Jordan’s jersey number is 23, and this year will mark the 23^rd version of his infamous name brand shoe to hit the market.

What makes this year extra special is that this time around the Air Jordan XX3 is going green! A new article from Brandweek.com explains how this “Become Legendary” campaign from Nike is going to be a historical event that will be a huge stepping stone for other shoe retailers across the world.

I wrote a past blog about eco-friendly Simple shoes, which use recycled plastic bottles and organic cotton. So what makes the new Air Jordan green? The shoe is the first product from the Nike Considered initiative, a new program whose shoes are not only athletically superior, but also environmentally friendly. These shoes use very little adhesives or toxic glues, making them safer for the environment and easier for factory workers to assemble. And easier work means less time spent in the factory, and less energy being used to power the machines in the factory.

The XX3 also uses recycled rubber in the soles, so most of the shoe itself can be recycled over again. Overall, they can help reduce your carbon footprint and maximize your slam-dunk skills! You can read more about the Air Jordan XX3 here.

Nike’s Bold Goal

By 2011 Nike hopes to have all of their footwear to meet or exceed the same standards as stated in the “Considered” line. I hope that this works and that other sports shoes follow this initiative because it would be a great way to get kids or anyone who loves sports involved in the green movement.