diff --git a/mkdocs/commands/build.py b/mkdocs/commands/build.py
index 614173d..6dc1015 100644
--- a/mkdocs/commands/build.py
+++ b/mkdocs/commands/build.py
@@ -55,6 +55,11 @@ def get_global_context(nav, config):
 
     extra_css = utils.create_media_urls(nav, config['extra_css'])
 
+    try:
+        build_date_utc = datetime.utcfromtimestamp(int(os.environ['SOURCE_DATE_EPOCH']))
+    except (KeyError, ValueError):
+        build_date_utc = datetime.utcnow()
+
     return {
         'site_name': site_name,
         'site_author': config['site_author'],
@@ -83,7 +88,7 @@ def get_global_context(nav, config):
         'google_analytics': config['google_analytics'],
 
         'mkdocs_version': mkdocs.__version__,
-        'build_date_utc': datetime.utcnow(),
+        'build_date_utc': build_date_utc,
 
         'config': config
     }