Engineered cementitious composites (ECC) designed based on micromechanics theory have strain-hardening behavior and multiple cracking characteristics. The ultimate tensile strain of ECC is 500 times that of fiber-reinforced concrete. ECC have excellent crack control ability, and can significantly improve the mechanical properties and durability of concrete structures. However, the limited raw material origin and high production cost limit the broad application of ECC. Based on this, this paper reviews the relevant literature on ECC, discusses the feasibility of using local raw materials or even recycled waste to prepare ECC that meets the performance requirements, and discusses the influences of cementitious materials, aggregates and fiber materials on the mechanical properties of ECC and the relative mechanism. In addition, the research direction of ECC is discussed to provide a reference for future research.