Reducing the greenhouse gas emissions is essential for sustainable development particularly the carbon dioxide (CO 2). The manufacturing of Portland cement is a highly energy-intensive process requiring about four Giga Joules (4GJ) of energy per tonne of finished product. The less energy intensive materials being sought are industrial by-products that are easily available, require little or no pyro-processing and have inherent or latent cementitious properties. Reducing the cement content in concrete by 40%-60% contributes to reduce CO 2 emissions. A part of the cement content can be replaced by fly ash and other supplementary materials and high range water reducing admixtures. Use of additive minerals improves pozzolanic reaction, micro-aggregate filling and concrete durability. Long term investigations have confirmed that cements containing slag and condensed silica fume impart better resistance to formation of large pores of cement clay or cement–silica fume paste systems, consequently to a decrease in the permeability. The present paper brings the past, present and expected future in the field of concrete with additive minerals using less cement. Studies have been performed on the durability of these concretes under different environmental conditions. Parameters like compressive strength, shrinkage, effects of carbonation and acid attacks have been measured.