Alkali-activation is a technically sound pathway to valorize industry wastes and by-products, and there has been a burgeoning interest in evaluating the potential of waste streams and/or by-products from different industries as precursors for alkali-activated materials production. In the context of sustainable construction materials, as well as other industrial systems, the use of such non-conventional precursors addresses the challenges associated with the global availability and management of such resource streams. This includes the availability of alternative valorisation routes, the life cycle implications of using waste streams, and the pragmatic issues around incorporating a wide range of precursor materials for future proof this technology. In this chapter an overview of studies utilizing alternative precursors for producing alkali-activated cements is presented, analyzing the characteristics of each resource, and identifying the links between mix design formulations and the performance of the alkali-activated materials produced with them. This in order to elucidate the existing knowledge gaps to facilitate the widespread uptake of such resources as key precursors for producing this type of cements.