The glue used is non-polluting in use and disposal. The oriented strand board is an excellent use of transition from non-renewable resources to renewable resources. The most significant pollution issue for SIPs currently is transportation issues. Few manufacturers exist, requiring longer shipping distances than appropriate. Ideally, SIPs would be shipped 300 miles or less, but presently SIP manufacturers routinely ship 500 more to 3,000 miles as well as overseas shipping.
SIPs are significantly better to work with on the jobsite with regard to pollution.
Most SIPs are sold pre-fabricated, with panel plans that minimize material. Minimization of material is necessary because the material costs more as a material and to compete manufacturers must look for every opportunity to not waste material to be able to compete with less expensive methods of construction. As a result, SIPs require less site labor, less dimensional lumber, and very little construction waste is produced. In a presentation by the EPA to the Structural Insulated Panel Association , SIPs were likened to Japanese cars in the 70's. Japan found itself unable to compete with the US manufacturing cars built so large and cheap head to head.