Green Daily

Tinkering with a business model that, at this point, seems to be recession-proof might seem a little risky to most, but that hasn't stopped Nike Inc. from pushing forward with a new line of eco-friendly shoes and apparel. The new "Nike Considered" line is the sneaker giant's attempt to re-imagine their vast sports empire with a emphasis on shrinking their footprint (sorry for the pun). Consequently, they say this will also help them reduce costs and prepare for the recession slower months ahead.

It appears that Nike is finally waking up to the concept that going green can translate to some serious savings. Their new lineup will make use of eco-friendly materials like cork and organic cotton, while also eliminating the need for toxic adhesives. Instead, many of the Nike Considered sneaks will use stitching for support and construction. According to their estimates, the company will cut about 17% of waste in their supply stream and increase their use of eco-conscious materials by 20%.

The first shoe to meet the new criteria has already hit the street -- it's the new Air Jordan XX3 unveiled last January. Nice.