The 23rd version of Nike’s iconic Air Jordan basketball shoe was designed with sustainability in mind, says the company. The Air Jordan XX3 will be manufactured with some recyclable materials and without solvent-based glues, while still meeting the performance standards demanded by pro-ball endorsers such as Chris Paul and Ray Allen. The shoe is still manufactured in Asia, and critics say the changes are no reach for the stars: “A shoe made without glue, in the face of all the other things that contribute to global warming … it’s a pretty small thing,” says Jim Van Dine of startup footwear company Ahnu Inc., who admits, “Nonetheless, it’s a step in the right direction.” Nike says that attempts at sustainability contributed to the shoe being the most expensive Air Jordan produced yet, with a first-run limited edition priced at $230 and the wider-released shoe to be $185.
